Awning construction

ABSTRACT

An awning construction for use in travel vehicles and the like in which a fabric member serves as the major portion of the awning and a flexible and pliable cover member, preferably of a thermoplastic sheet material, is joined to the inner edge of the fabric so that the cover member serves as a portion of the awning during normal use and serves as an outer cover for the fabric portion when the same is rolled up for storage and travel. The cover member is easily cleanable and of a different material than the fabric member so that the fabric member is protected from dirt when it is rolled up. Desirably, end plates are provided on a frame adjacent to the outer end of the fabric member for closing the ends of the cover when the fabric member is rolled up.

United States Patent [191 Sattler et al.

[11]. [451' July 30,1974

[ AWNING CONSTRUCTION [52] US. Cl. 135/5 AT [51] Int. Cl E04f 10/00 [58] Field of Search 135/1 A, 5 A, 5 AT;

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS Duda 135/5 AT Johnson ct al 160/46 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGarry & Waters [57] ABSTRACT An awning construction for use in travel vehicles and the like-in which a fabric member serves as the major portion of the awning and a flexible and pliable cover member, preferably of a thermoplastic sheet material, is joined to the inner edge of the fabric so that the cover member serves as a portion of the awning during normal use and serves as an outer cover for the fabric portion when the same is rolled up for storage and travel. The cover member is easily cleanable and of a different material than the fabric member so that the fabric member is protected from dirt when it is rolled up. Desirably, end plates (are vprovided on a frame adjacent to the outer end of the fabric member for closing the ends of the cover when the fabric member is rolled up.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 4 1 AWNING consrnucrron BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to awning construction for travel vehicles and the like. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to an awning having one edge thereof of a difierent material to provide a protective covering for the awning when the same is rolled up.

2. State of the Prior Art With the advent of recreational travel trailers it has become desirable to affix large awnings to the sides of the travel trailers to provide shade and protection to an area adjacent the travel vehicle when the vehicle is parked. The awnings are generally attached at their inner edges to a conventional awning rail at an upper portion of the side of the vehicle. Frame members are provided, either on the vehicle itself or vertically at the front edge of the awning to support the awning in extended position. Many awning and frame constructions are adapted so that the awning maybe rolled up and positioned in a roll adjacent to the awning rail on the vehicle for storage during travel of the vehicle. In this condition, the awning is subject to road dust, dirt, rain, etc., which results in a strip of dirty fabric at the inner side of the awning. In order to properly clean the inner portion of the awning fabric, the fabric must be removed and cleaned by hand. In some cases, the fabric must be cleaned professionally to properly remove the dirt.

Attempts have been made in the past to protect awning fabric from soiling when rolled up. For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,426,775 and 2,568,048, there is disclosed roll up awnings secured to a vehicle in a conventional fashion, and awning housings secured to the vehicle above the awnings so that the awnings may be inserted into the housings for protection when rolled up. These housings require a special mounting on the vehicle and are rather expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided an improved awning construction having a cover for a fabric portion, wherein the cover forms a portion of the awning when the awning is unrolled in normal use. The awning has a fabric member of a given length and width providing substantially the entire width of the awning construction, the fabric member having inner and outer longitudinal edges. A flexible and pliable cover member, preferably of a synthetic thermoplastic material, different from the fabric portion and characterized by being easily cleanable, is coupled to the fabric portion at the inner edge thereof. The cover member has a length at least co-extensive with the fabric member and a width sufficient only to wrap substantially around the fabric member when the same is'rolled up. The cover member has a continuous solid bead on an inner edge thereof for engaging a like conventional awning rail on the travel vehicle and a bead on the outer edge. Coupling means, including back-to-back C-shaped clamps, secure the inner edge of the awning fabric to the cover member.

Desirably, the awning is secured to a frame which in cludes a front roller bar. Means secure the fabric member to the front roller bar near an outer edge thereof so that the fabric member may be rolled up around the front roller bar. A pair of end plates are provided at the sides of the fabric member on the front roller bar to provide end covers for the cover member when the aw ning is rolled up.

The cover member is desirably formed of an extruded thermoplastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like, and is desirably extruded with strengthening beads running along the length thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an awning and cover therefor according to the invention as secured to a travel vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the awning and cover in the rolled-up position; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there-is illustrated a travel vehicle 12 having an awning fabric member generally designated by the numeral 14, the awning fabric member being secured to a side of the vehicle and supported by a frame. The awning fabric member is a well knownawning material, generally woven material with a waterproof coating. The frame for supporting the aw ning fabric member can be any suitable frame which supports the awning fabric member in an extended position as illustrated in FIG. 1 andwhich isadaptable for rolling up the awning fabric member. A suitable frame is disclosed and claimed in'co-pending patent application of James L. Sattler, Ser. No. 239,299, filed Mar. 29, 1972 (WWP:l.2), which patent application is incorporated herein by reference. Generally, the frame illustrated in FIG. 1 has a front roller bar 16 to which the awning fabric member is secured at its outer edge. A plurality of rafters 18 extend from the vehicle and engage the front roll bar 16 to maintain the roll bar 16 in the extended position to support-the awning fabric 14. A pair of side arms 20 rotatably mounts the front roll bar 16 in supporting relationship thereto. At the inner ends thereof, the side arms 20 are slidably joined to vertical side bars 22.

A conventional awning rail 24 is secured to the vvehicle through conventional means (not shown). The awning rail 24 is an elongated, C-shaped member which normally receives a rope bead for the awning fabric member 14. According to the invention, a cover sheet 26, preferably of a pliable plastic material, is secured at its inner edge to the awning rail 24 and is secured at its outer edge to the inner edge of the awning fabric member 14. The cover sheet 26 has end beads 28 and 30 and a plurality of elongated strengthening ribs 32, the end beads and the strengthening ribs extending the full length of the cover sheet 26. A connector 34, comprising integral back-to-back C-shaped clamps 36 and 38, is provided for securing the cover sheet 26 to the awning fabric '14. The connector 34' is preferably formed of an extruded plastic material and extends the full width of the cover sheet 26. C clamp 36 snaps around the end bead'30 and C clamp 38 snaps around the rope head 40 to join the cover sheet 26 to the awning fabric 14. Desirably, the awning fabric 14 is of a width slightly less than the cover sheet 26 so that the coversheet 26 will completely cover the awning fabric 14 when the awning fabric is in the rolled up position as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Circular end plates 42 are provided at the ends of the front roller bar 16 and positioned to meet the ends of the cover sheet 26 when the awning fabric is in the rolled up condition as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.'In FIG. 3, a portion of the cover sheet 26 is partly broken away to illustrate how the end plates 42 fit within the ends of the cover sheet to enclose the awning fabric 14 when the same has been rolled up.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the outer end of the awning fabric member 14 is secured to the front roller bar 16 through a clamp 46 which in turn is secured to the front roller bar 16 through a screw 48. The awning fabric has a rope bead which is held beneath the clamp 46. This connection is more clearly illustrated and more fully described in said co-pending patent application of James L. Sattler. Other means of securing the awning fabric to the frame can also be employed with the cover of this invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the front roller bar 16 has a roll up shaft 44 extending outwardly thereof and outwardly of the side arm 20. A ratchet handle (not shown) engages the roll up shaft 44 for rolling up the awning or rolling down the awning in a well known manner. Obviously, the rafters 18 must be removed prior to rolling up of the awning 14. The procedure for rolling up the awning is also disclosed more fully in said co-pending Sattler patent application.

The cover sheet 26 is preferably a synthetic thermoplastic mterial which can be extruded to the desired width. Suitable thermoplastic materials include polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like. The cover sheet is soft and pliable so that it functions as a portion of the awning when the awning is in the unrolled condition and so that it may be easily rolled up around the fabric member when the awning is rolled up. The length of the cover member, that is, the distance which runs along the side of the travel vehicle, is at least co-extensive with the length of the fabric member. Desirably, the cover member is slightly longer than the fabric member, extending slightly outside of each edge thereof to provide a space for the end plates 42 when the awning is rolled up. As seen in FIG. 1, the width of the fabric member 14 is substantially greater than that of the cover sheet 26 with the fabric member providing substantially the entire width of the awning. The width of the cover sheet is selected so that the cover sheet wraps around the roll of the fabric member 14 substantially completely when the fabric is rolled up as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As set forth above, the cover sheet is of an easily cleanable plastic material which is different from the fabric portion. Therefore, when the cover sheet gets dirty, it can merely be wiped clean or easily washed, without even removing the same from the vehicle. Use of the cover avoids the usual spot cleaning required of awning fabric.

Thus the invention provides an improved cover for an awning fabric to keep the awning clean when the same is rolled up. The cover sheet of the invention can I be easily adapted to any conventional awning by merely positioning the cover member between the inner edge of the awning and the.vehicle. No special modifications to either the awning fabric nor the vehicle need be made. The cover sheet is quickly and easily assembled in place and requires no special tools.

Reasonable variation and modification are now possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an awning construction for a travel vehicle, said awning construction comprising:

a fabric awning member having an inner edge-and an outer edge;

a frame for supporting said awning on the side of a travel vehicle, said frame having a front roller bar for supporting said fabric awning member at an outer portion thereof;

means for securing said fabric awning member near an outer edge thereof to said frame roller bar;

the improvement which comprises;

a flexible and pliable cover member having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a length at least co-extensive with said fabric awning member; said cover member being made of a continuous easily cleanable sheet of a synthetic plastic material;

means coupling said outer edge of said cover member to said inner edge of said fabric awning member, said coupling means forming a substantially continuous seal along said fabric awning to continuously seal said cover member to said inner edge of said awning member; and

said inner edge of said cover member including an integrally formed, substantially continuous solid bead of the same material as the cover member adapted to engage an awning rail on a travel vehicle for securing said cover member to a travel vehicle;

whereby said flexible cover member serves as a portion of said awning when said awning is in the unrolled condition, and said cover member forms the outer layer of a roll when said awning is rolled up from said outer end thereof, said cover member serving as a protective cover for said fabric member in the rolled up condition thereof.

2. An awning construction according to claim 1 wherein said cover member is formed of an extruded synthetic plastic material.

3. An awning construction according to claim 2 wherein said cover member further comprises beads of thickened material running the length of said cover member.

4. An awning construction according to claim 3 wherein said inner edge of said fabric awning member includes a beaded edge, said outer edge of said cover member includes a beaded portion, and said coupling means includes integral clamping means engaging said beaded edges of said fabric member and said cover member.

5. An awning construction according to claim 4 wherein said clamping means includes a pair of 0 shaped clamps in cross-section in back-to-back relationship, said clamps extending the length of said cover member.

6. An awning construction according to claim 5 wherein said cover member further comprises beads of thickened material'running the length of said cover member.

7. An awning construction according to claim 1 and further comprising circular end members supported by said front roller bar at the sides of said fabric awning member, said end members closing the ends of said cover member when said fabric awning member is in rolled up condition.

8. An awning construction according to claim 7 wherein said cover member extends outside the edges of said fabric portion and said end members fit within the edges of said cover member.

9. An awning for use in travel vehicles wherein the awning is supported by a frame so as to extend laterally from the side of a vehicle with one end of the awning secured to the vehicle, and wherein the awning is rolled up and positioned against the side of a vehicle for storage in travel, said awning comprising:

a fabric member of a given length and width providing substantially the entire width of said awning, said fabric member having inner and outer edges;

a flexible and pliable cover member of a synthetic plastic sheet material and characterized by being easily cleanable compared to said fabricimember,

said cover member having a length at least coextensive with said fabric member and a width sufficient only to wrap substantially around said fabric member when the same is rolled up;

means coupling one longitudinal edge of said cover member to said inner edge of said fabric member, said coupling means forming a substantially continuous seal along said fabric member to continuously seal said cover member to said fabric member, whereby said cover member serves as a portion of said awning when unrolled, and serves as an outer cover for said fabric-member when said awning is rolled up; and

an integrally formed solid, substantially continuous bead of the same material as the cover member at an inner edge of said cover member to fit within an awning rail of a travel vehicle. for securing said cover to a travel vehicle.

10. An awning according to claim 9 wherein said cover member is an extruded plastic material. 

1. In an awning construction for a travel vehicle, said awning construction comprising: a fabric awning member having an inner edge and an outer edge; a frame for supporting said awning on the side of a travel vehicle, said framE having a front roller bar for supporting said fabric awning member at an outer portion thereof; means for securing said fabric awning member near an outer edge thereof to said frame roller bar; the improvement which comprises; a flexible and pliable cover member having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a length at least co-extensive with said fabric awning member; said cover member being made of a continuous easily cleanable sheet of a synthetic plastic material; means coupling said outer edge of said cover member to said inner edge of said fabric awning member, said coupling means forming a substantially continuous seal along said fabric awning to continuously seal said cover member to said inner edge of said awning member; and said inner edge of said cover member including an integrally formed, substantially continuous solid bead of the same material as the cover member adapted to engage an awning rail on a travel vehicle for securing said cover member to a travel vehicle; whereby said flexible cover member serves as a portion of said awning when said awning is in the unrolled condition, and said cover member forms the outer layer of a roll when said awning is rolled up from said outer end thereof, said cover member serving as a protective cover for said fabric member in the rolled up condition thereof.
 2. An awning construction according to claim 1 wherein said cover member is formed of an extruded synthetic plastic material.
 3. An awning construction according to claim 2 wherein said cover member further comprises beads of thickened material running the length of said cover member.
 4. An awning construction according to claim 3 wherein said inner edge of said fabric awning member includes a beaded edge, said outer edge of said cover member includes a beaded portion, and said coupling means includes integral clamping means engaging said beaded edges of said fabric member and said cover member.
 5. An awning construction according to claim 4 wherein said clamping means includes a pair of C-shaped clamps in cross-section in back-to-back relationship, said clamps extending the length of said cover member.
 6. An awning construction according to claim 5 wherein said cover member further comprises beads of thickened material running the length of said cover member.
 7. An awning construction according to claim 1 and further comprising circular end members supported by said front roller bar at the sides of said fabric awning member, said end members closing the ends of said cover member when said fabric awning member is in rolled up condition.
 8. An awning construction according to claim 7 wherein said cover member extends outside the edges of said fabric portion and said end members fit within the edges of said cover member.
 9. An awning for use in travel vehicles wherein the awning is supported by a frame so as to extend laterally from the side of a vehicle with one end of the awning secured to the vehicle, and wherein the awning is rolled up and positioned against the side of a vehicle for storage in travel, said awning comprising: a fabric member of a given length and width providing substantially the entire width of said awning, said fabric member having inner and outer edges; a flexible and pliable cover member of a synthetic plastic sheet material and characterized by being easily cleanable compared to said fabric member, said cover member having a length at least co-extensive with said fabric member and a width sufficient only to wrap substantially around said fabric member when the same is rolled up; means coupling one longitudinal edge of said cover member to said inner edge of said fabric member, said coupling means forming a substantially continuous seal along said fabric member to continuously seal said cover member to said fabric member, whereby said cover member serves as a portion of said awning when unrolled, and serves as an outer cover for said fabric member when said awning is rolled up; and an Integrally formed solid, substantially continuous bead of the same material as the cover member at an inner edge of said cover member to fit within an awning rail of a travel vehicle for securing said cover to a travel vehicle.
 10. An awning according to claim 9 wherein said cover member is an extruded plastic material. 